Pierce Pettis’s new album officially releases today. He’s been selling it at his concerts for the last few months, so many of us can attest to its grooviness. As on every Pettis album that I’m aware of, he opens with a cover of a Mark Heard song. That, friends, is not just extremely humble, it is the finest way I can imagine for one songwriter to honor another.
I’ve listened to the album enough to know Pierce has once again delivered excellence, but I haven’t had the time to dig in just yet. The title track alone is worth the price of admission, though. At the Ryman Christmas concert last year, Pierce played “That Kind of Love” and leveled us all. I had a live recording of it from the show, but my computer died last year and I’m just now realizing that’s one of the things that was lost. Instead, please enjoy the album version, then go buy it, either at his website or on iTunes.
(Note from the Proprietor: As of 1:27 am on Tuesday morning, the song samples on iTunes strangely aren’t Pierce Pettis songs. Not sure what to make of that.)
This is the title track:
That Kind of Love (Pierce Pettis) Slapfight Songs (ASCAP), admin. by Bug Music
Can’t be bought or sold or faked That kind of love Always gives itself away That kind of love Wiser than the wisest sage It’s innocence makes me ashamed Til I’m not sure I can take That kind of love
Pride and hatred cannot stand That kind of love Greater love hath no man Than that kind of love Won’t be kept unto itself Spreads it’s charm, casts it’s spell No one’s safe this side of hell From that kind of love
Love rejected and ignored Held in chains, behind closed doors Stuff of legend and of songs Deep down everybody longs (for) That kind of love . . . oh, that kind of love
Some people never know That kind of love Though it only takes a child to show That kind of love Widows smile and strong men weep Little ones play at it’s feet Deaf can hear and blind can see That kind of love
Love triumphant, love on fire Love that humbles and inspires Love that does not hesitate No conditions, no restraints That kind of love . . . oh, that kind of love
How could anyone deny That kind of love Every heart is measured by That kind of love Even stars fall from the sky Everything will fall in time Except those things that cannot die That kind of love Oh, may you be remembered by That kind of love
Also, Paste Magazine is streaming the entire record on its website, which is pretty cool.